Challenges and
Opportunities
Energy consumption
Several studies show that roughly half the energy consumption within laboratories is related to ventilation, including general laboratory
ventilation, fume boards, Laminar Down Flow
(LAF) benches, and suction hoods.

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Managing
laboratorie
s
according t
actual use o
is
key

Managing laboratories according to actual use
is key, and while they may frequently used outside of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;office hoursâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, keeping everything operational 24/7/365 is unnecessary. Implementing
time controls for ventilation systems, including
demand-responsive ventilation, is one way to
regulate use. Implementing a default setting at
OFF for ventilation equipment at night may also
prove an effective way to saving energy and
thus reduce costs. However, it is vital that information about ventilation shutdowns is systematised to circumvent the risk of researchers breathing toxic fumes in labs that have not
been sufficiently ventilated.
For physics laboratories in particular, storing
secondary equipment, such as vacuum pumps
that produce a lot of excess heat, in a specially
designated room is highly recommended. This
will reduce the heat load in the labs themselves,
and it will also allow for a more energy-efficient
cooling of rooms where the equipment is stored
(for example, allowing for higher room temperatures, using water loops as cooling media,
etc.). This will not merely help green the laboratories, it will also save universities money, and
it will improve health and safety for the users.

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As labs use a wide range of energy intensive
equipment/systems, retrofitting existing systems and equipment, as well as investing in
new and more energy-efficient systems/equipment will also allow for significant reductions
in energy use and offer long-term savings.

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